A chimpanzee was shot dead today after it escaped from Flamingo Land zoo in North Yorkshire.

Police issued an urgent warning to the public after the adult female chimp escaped from the zoo, near Malton, shortly after 10am.

The animal was later shot by a marksman from the zoo.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said the chimpanzee escaped at 10.10am and officers were alerted at 11.26am.

He said an urgent appeal was issued because the animal was potentially dangerous and should not be approached.

The spokesman said: ''Because of fog, they did not know what direction the animal went in.''

Full story in The Northern Echo tomorrow.